He knew his colors and shapes, he learned more than 100 English words, and with his own brand of one-liners he established himself in TV shows, scientific reports, and news articles as perhaps the world’s most famous talking bird.

But last week Alex, an African Grey parrot, died, apparently of natural causes, said Dr. Irene Pepperberg, a comparative psychologist at Brandeis University and Harvard who studied and worked with the parrot for most of its life and published reports of his progress in scientific journals. The parrot was 31....

My heart goes out to Dr. Pepperberg and the others who were fortunate enough to know Alex. Especially because they were probably unconsciously expecting to have another 30 to 40 years with him, given how long African Greys can live.